Drawing
18th century (made)
| Artist/Maker |
Drawing of Hanford House, Dorset, the country seat of the dedicated naturalist and amateur butterfly painter Henry Seymer. Seymer was also the owner of an extensive garden of exotics.
Thomas Robins is an enigmatic artist and, so far, little has been discovered of his life. Between 1747 and his death in 1770, Robins produced a series of drawings and paintings of English country houses and, in particular, their gardens. His surviving drawings and paintings epitomise English rococo taste. Robins was either specially attracted to rococo gardens, or had a reputation for the delineation of such gardens in the circles of cognoscenti of the rococo.
Robins and his work are of significant interest both topographically and aesthetically. His pictures of rococo gardens, with their vistas and ornamental buildings, are of great historical importance because they immortalise a fashion whose exemplars have disappeared. Robins, who was in many respects an 'amateur' painter, never succumbed to conventional facility and his views retain the charm and freshness of a personal discovery.
His son Thomas Robins the Younger was a drawing master who excelled in botanical paintings. He was well acquainted with Henry Seymer and it is on the latter's recommendation that Robins spent 10 years in Jamaica to illustrate the island's wildlife.
Thomas Robins is an enigmatic artist and, so far, little has been discovered of his life. Between 1747 and his death in 1770, Robins produced a series of drawings and paintings of English country houses and, in particular, their gardens. His surviving drawings and paintings epitomise English rococo taste. Robins was either specially attracted to rococo gardens, or had a reputation for the delineation of such gardens in the circles of cognoscenti of the rococo.
Robins and his work are of significant interest both topographically and aesthetically. His pictures of rococo gardens, with their vistas and ornamental buildings, are of great historical importance because they immortalise a fashion whose exemplars have disappeared. Robins, who was in many respects an 'amateur' painter, never succumbed to conventional facility and his views retain the charm and freshness of a personal discovery.
His son Thomas Robins the Younger was a drawing master who excelled in botanical paintings. He was well acquainted with Henry Seymer and it is on the latter's recommendation that Robins spent 10 years in Jamaica to illustrate the island's wildlife.
Object details
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Pen and ink and watercolour on paper |
| Brief description | Drawing of 'Hanford Seat of Sir Robert Seymer Esq', 18th century, by Thomas Robins |
| Physical description | Drawing of Hanford House, Dorset, on paper, in black ink and grey watercolour. It depicts the house in the centre surrounded by stables behind and a landscaped garden in front. To the right of the house is an enclosure containing a chapel. Hills and church towers dominate the horizon line. 'Hanford Seat of Henry Seymer Esq' is written in italic lettering in black ink in the centre at the bottom of the page. The drawing is inscribed 'No 5' in the bottom right hand corner. It is in a landscape format and is attached to a page of the album. |
| Credit line | Accepted by H M Government in lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Victoria & Albert Museum, 2000 |
| Summary | Drawing of Hanford House, Dorset, the country seat of the dedicated naturalist and amateur butterfly painter Henry Seymer. Seymer was also the owner of an extensive garden of exotics. Thomas Robins is an enigmatic artist and, so far, little has been discovered of his life. Between 1747 and his death in 1770, Robins produced a series of drawings and paintings of English country houses and, in particular, their gardens. His surviving drawings and paintings epitomise English rococo taste. Robins was either specially attracted to rococo gardens, or had a reputation for the delineation of such gardens in the circles of cognoscenti of the rococo. Robins and his work are of significant interest both topographically and aesthetically. His pictures of rococo gardens, with their vistas and ornamental buildings, are of great historical importance because they immortalise a fashion whose exemplars have disappeared. Robins, who was in many respects an 'amateur' painter, never succumbed to conventional facility and his views retain the charm and freshness of a personal discovery. His son Thomas Robins the Younger was a drawing master who excelled in botanical paintings. He was well acquainted with Henry Seymer and it is on the latter's recommendation that Robins spent 10 years in Jamaica to illustrate the island's wildlife. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.1308:5-2001 |
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| Record created | March 21, 2001 |
| Record URL |
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